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2 in 1 Ferret Book: Getting Started with Pet Ferrets and Ferret Toys

NOOK Book(eBook)

Overview

So you finally got that pet ferret you've been wanting. But now what?

Ferrets do make great pets. They are fun, quirky, lovable, playful, mischievous, and entertaining little critters. But they also require a commitment on your part. You will need to invest time, money, and energy to take care of your woozles properly. Reading our "2 in 1 Ferret Book" will aid you in preparing and getting outfitted for your ferret journey – especially the ferret-cage and ferret-readiness checklists.

And then there are the toys – most likely lots of them. Just as we do for our human children, we want the best, most-stimulating toys we can afford for our pet ferrets. But how do we wade through the thousands of choices and the many manufacturers. And where is the best place to get ferret toys? And what about homemade toys?

This book contains our two top-selling ferret books with new additional material.

Excerpt:Ferrets, because they are meat eaters, belong to the Carnivora order, as do dogs and cats, wolves and lions. As we move further down the classification line, we see that ferrets belong to the Mustelidae (which means loosely "weasel" or "mouse killer") family, and this makes them remotely related to badgers, sea otters, wolverines, and polecats. So far, then, it seems our pet ferrets, our favorite fuzzies, are in the company of some pretty tough (and perhaps stinky) critters.

Next, we find ferrets in the genus putorious, a Latin word that means "stench." (Just think of the word "putrid.") Then, they are in the species called furo, which come from furis, which means "thief." Big surprise, huh?

So, taxonomically, a ferret is . . . a weaselly, mouse-killing, smelly thief. But pet ferrets aren't really very closely related to weasels, and most of them don't kill mice (unless they are fed a whole-prey diet). They are, however, incorrigible thieves, so that part's pretty accurate.

This description, though scientifically sound, doesn't really tell us much about what this creature we love really is. So . . . just what IS a ferret?

Well, first off, a ferret is a small, elongated, long-whiskered bundle of energy – when it isn't sleeping, which is most of the time. It is a creature that when active (which, again, is only about 6 hours a day) is furiously playing – running, jumping, hiding, chewing, stealing. Or not . . . because it may be asleep. A ferret, then, is a seeming contradiction – a living paradox.

Second, a carpetshark possesses the attributes of several different animals all bundled together in one lovable package. It displays, for instance, the zany playfulness of an otter. (Just think of otters in all the Disney shows we watched when we were kids.) It has the sneakiness and curiosity of a cat – which, just as with cats, can get a ferret into some less-than-ideal predicaments. And a ferret is like a dog in that it often engages in hilariously entertaining (to us) and embarrassing (to the ferret) antics.

Finally, on a more serious note, ferrets are great pets – but only for those willing to make the necessary investment. For just like people – and they are a lot like humans, too – they require vaccinations and regular medical check-ups, as well as a quality diet, to remain healthy. They need their own living space and quality sleeping quarters. They have to have scheduled play times and lots of chances for socialization with both you and others of their own kind.

Pet ferrets are, in short, members of your family. And here are a couple of our picks in ferret-care books for tips on how to keep your paradoxical, multi-faceted, furry family members healthy and happy . . .

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Product Details

About the Author

An animal lover since she was a young girl, Karen has three dogs,one cat, three horses, one husband . . . and four ferrets. It might be better, though, to say that these ferrets share her home. When you have a pet that combines a cat's curiosity and an otter's playfulness and a dog's silly antics, you can't really say you own it.Karen has been sharing her home with ferrets for about four years (as of this writing – September 2011). They are Rikki, a female albino ferret, and Possum, a male panda ferret, and Loki and Luna. Her adventure with pet ferrets began like this . . .Karen found Rikki, the fuzzball who started her love affair with ferrets, curled up on the ground beside her truck at work on a cold, rainy December night. Karen scooped her up, dried her off, and took her home. (She did do her best to locate the owners.) Thus began her life with ferrets.After having Rikki for about a year, Karen began to feel guilty about not being able to give her the attention she needed (because of work and family and all that). So, in early November, she put on her brightest, most-fetching smile and asked her husband for an early Christmas present. And he said, "We'll see" – which was close enough to "Yes" for Karen.So in a few days they set off to the local pet store to find Rikki a "baby brother." Karen took Rikki with her so she could help pick out her "brother," but Rikki, her furry little mind boogled by ferret speed dating, couldn't make a decision. Karen decided for her, and she made a good choice. Possum is a playmate, cohort in adventure and loving companion to Rikki and both a joy and a trial to Karen.Now, Karen shares her enthusiasm for fuzzy carpet sharks and growing knowledge of ferrets with anyone willing to listen. Ferrets are fairly high-maintenance pets. They require a lot of care, a lot of attention, in-depth knowledge of diet and health issues, and just the right ferret accessories and ferret toys.Karen’s goal is to help people who are in the same boat she was when ferrets first came into her life – that is, knowing almost nothing about ferrets or where to turn for help. She hopes to make the journey a little smoother for other ferret owners. For healthy, happy ferrets are worth it.